COMPOST PIT, GREEN FERTILIZER FOR GREEN ECONOMY

Compost pits are used to prepare organic manure which have long livespan and do not alter the soil Ph. These organic fertilizers provide the food needed for a plant to grow after a seed has germinated in the soil. This food consists of plant nutrients which are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). There are also many other chemicals needed by plants in small quantities, e.g. copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), sulphur (S) and others. These are called micronutrients or trace elements. Natural fertilizer also provides organic matter called humus for the soil. Humus is a black or brown spongy or jelly-like substance. It helps the soil have a good structure to hold water and air. One of the best natural fertilizers is mature compost because it feeds the soil with humus and plant nutrients. The growing plants take their nutrients from the top layer of the soil where their roots grow.

Plant nutrients are lost from the soil when they are washed down (leached) below the top soil, or when the top soil is eroded. Plant nutrients are also lost with the crops when these are harvested. When the surface of the land is broken up for farming, the soil is often eroded: it is blown away by the wind or washed away by rain and floods. The soil also loses much of its carbon content as carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere, thus contributing to climate change. The soil that is left becomes poor in plant nutrients so the crops do not grow well and give a   good yield. But if the plant nutrients and carbon are returned to the soil, it can continue to grow good crops as well as contribute to slowing down the negative impacts of climate change.

Importance of Compost manure

Compost is important because it:     

1.     Contains the main plant nutrients – nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), often written as NPK;

2.            Improves the organic matter in the soil by providing humus

3.            Helps the soil hold both water and air for plants; and

4.            Makes trace elements or micronutrients available to plants.

Uses of compost manure

Compost is made up of humus, it can be used for improving soil as follows

1.     It provides plant nutrients that are released throughout the growing season, the plant nutrients are released when organic matter decomposes and is changed into humus, this plant nutrients dissolve in the water in the soil and are taken in by the roots of the crops.

2.     It improves soil structure so that plant roots can easily reach down into the soil, in sandy soil the humus makes the sand particles stick together. This reduces the size of the spaces (pores) so that water stays longer in the soil. In clay soils, the humus surrounds the clay particles making more spaces (pores) in the soil so the root systems of plants can reach the water and nutrients that they need, and air can also move through the soil, therefore, because heavy clay soils become lighter and sandy soils become heavier, soil that has had compost added to it is easier to work, i.e. to plough and dig.

3.     It improves the moisture-holding capacity of soil. The humus is a dark brown or black soft spongy or jelly-like substance that holds water and plant nutrients. One kilogram of humus can hold up to six litres of water. In dry times, soil with good humus in it can hold water longer than soil with little humus.  When it rains, water easily gets into the soil instead of running off over the surface. Water gets into the subsoil and down to the water table, runoff and thus flooding is reduced, and springs do not dry up in the dry season.

4.       It helps to control weeds, pests and diseases. When weeds are used to make compost, the high temperature of the compost-making process kills many, but not all, of the weed seeds. Even the noxious weed, Parthenium, has most of its seeds killed when it is made into compost Fertile soil produces strong plants able to resist pests and diseases. When crop residues are used to make compost, many pests and diseases cannot survive to infect the next season’s crops.

5.       It helps the soil resist erosion by wind and water. This is because: Water can enter the soil better and this can stop showers building up into a flood. This also reduces splash and sheet erosion. Soil held together with humus cannot be blown away so easily by wind.

6.       Compost helps farmers improve the productivity of their land and their income. It is made without having to pay cash or borrow money, i.e. farmers do not have to take credit and get into debt like they do for taking chemical fertilizer. But, to make and use compost properly farmers, either individually or working in groups, have to work hard.

Components of making Compost

1.     Plant materials, both dry and green

a)     Weeds, grasses and any other dry plant materials cut from inside and around fields, in clearing paths, in weeding, etc

b)    Waste from cleaning grains, cooking and cleaning houses and compound, making food and different drinks, particularly coffee and tea

c)     Crop residues; stems, leaves, straws and chaff of all field crops, both big and small cereals, pulses, oil crops, horticultural crops and spices, from threshing grounds and from fields after harvesting

d)    Garden wastes; old leaves, dead flowers, hedge trimmings and grass cuttings

e)     Dry grass, hay and straw left over from feeding and bedding animals. Animal beddings are very useful because it has been mixed with the urine and the droppings of the animals

f)      Dropped leaves and stems from almost any tree and bush except plants which have tough leaves or leaves and stems with strong smells or liquids when crushed, like Eucalypyus, Australian Acacia, Euphorbia etc

g)     Stems of Cactus, such as prickly pear, can be used if they are crushed or chopped up, they are good source of moisture for making compost in dry areas

2.     Water

Enough water is needed to wet all the materials and keep them moist, but the materials should not be made too wet so that they lack air and thus rot and smell bad. Both too little and too much water prevents good compost being made

Water does not need to be clean and can be collected from

a)     Collected rain water

b)    Collected waste water e.g. from washing pots and pans, clothes, floors

c)     Human and animal urine

d)    Ponds, dams, streams and rivers

3.     Animal Materials

a)     Dung and droppings from all types of domestic animals including horses, cattle, goats, from night pets and even collected from fields

b)    Chicken droppings are important to include in compost because they are rick in nitrogen

Compost making aids

1.     Micro-Organisms (Bacteria and fungi) and smaller animals like earthworms, nematodes, bettles and insects turn waste materials in to compost manure

2.     Air – Air circulation in a compost pit is necessary because soil organisms responsible for the manure formation require oxygen for their survival

3.     Heat- Decomposition of organic wastes produces heat. Compost needs to be kept hot and moist so that the plant and animal materials can be broken down quickly and thoroughly. Heat destroys most of the weeds, fungal diseases, pests and parasites

FUEL BRIQUETTES

Introduction

The quality of life for both the rural and urban population across East Africa, like others in the developing world, is difficult by high cost of fuel wood and oil based products (paraffin and gas) used in cooking. For this majority the problem of obtaining fuel wood should come as a secondary priority to obtaining food. The high cost is as a result of unprecedented destruction of forests and bushes that were the traditional source of wood fuel and charcoal. However fuel briquettes-made by compacting agricultural and commercial waste materials such as dried leaves, sugar bargasse, sawdust, scrap paper, and even charcoal dust into a small cake(briquettes) that can be used for cooking –is being considered as a viable alternative.

The potential of fuel briquettes

The quality of life and the choice of fuel for cooking in the both rural and urban regions across East Africa, like elsewhere in the developing world, is affected by the high cost of fuel wood, paraffin and gas. The high cost of fuel is as a result of unprecedented destruction of forests and bushes that were the traditional source of wood fuel and charcoal. A viable alternative fuel for cooking that is increasingly popular is fuel briquettes made by compacting agricultural and commercial residues such as dried leaves, sugar bargasse , sawdust, scrap paper, and even charcoal dust into a small cake or briquettes. The briquettes can be produced locally using simple hand operated tools.

Available estimates indicate that fuel briquettes can reduce the demand for firewood by more than 200,000 kilograms per year, helping to degrease deforestation (McDoughal Owen, 2001.’A Unique approach to conservation; Chemical society).Fuel briquettes have been successfully utilized in many parts of the world including Malawi, Haiti, Zimbabwe, Peru, Mali, and Kenya. However, there is great need to increase awareness on the value of briquettes as an alternative fuel in East Africa as a means of reducing local dependence on fuel wood and as a tool for teaching the community about forest conservation.

According to the World Bank and the Paris based SEED organization, 1200 grams of wood are burned per person per day in the typical cooking situation in third world countries using  the three stone stove. This is equivalent to using 400 kilogram of wood each year to satisfy the energy needs of one person. In contrast, a typical person consumes only 140 kilograms worth of fuel briquettes made of agricultural and commercial residues, in one year. Therefore, using fuel briquettes dramatically reduces the strain on forest resources.

Usage of briquettes

Briquettes can be used in almost every application where firewood and charcoal is traditionally used, even in a typical three-stone stove. They are most applicable in areas where access to firewood is limited, such as the arid lands or in densely populated areas. In these areas, fuel briquettes can compete favorably with traditional solid fuel (firewood, charcoal, and cow dung). In northern Kenya and in the country’s urban centres, the price difference is already in favor of fuel briquettes. In Mbale, Uganda, the Uganda United Woman’s Association (UUWA) is making fuel briquettes as part of their income generating strategy. The woman collect residues such as leaves, scrap paper, charcoal dust and sawdust and use a press to make fuel briquettes, which they bring to the market to sell alongside firewood and charcoal. Since traditional fuel sources are becoming more expensive in Mbale due to deforestation and increased demand, the UUWA is able to make a reasonable profit. The income generated from the sale of briquettes is either divided among the women or invested in other income generating activities. The UUWA project demonstrates that production and marketing of fuel briquettes using agricultural and commercial residues can provide a sustainable alternative to fuel wood, helping to reduce deforestation and contribute to protection of vital natural resources for future generations. In Kenya briquette business is becoming popular particularly in the arid lands and other regions adversely affected by deforestation.

Briquettes as a means of protecting Forest

Forests play a vital role in stabilization of soils and ground water, thereby sustaining agricultural activity. Forests also play a crucial role in protection of water catchments an in climate moderation by absorbing greenhouse gases. They also contribute immensely to biological diversity and are a major habitat for wildlife. In the developing world, forests also provide valuable raw materials such as timber and fuel wood.

In Kakamega, Western Kenya for example, the use of briquettes has added significance in Kakamega forest. The forest, which is situated 418 kilometres west of Nairobi, is the only tropical rainforest in Kenya and the source of four rivers. To arrest the high rate of deforestation that endangers the rainforest, the Kakamega Environmental Education Programme (KEEP) is teaching the local people how to make charcoal briquettes as a means of arresting dependency on the rainforest. KEEP conducts formal classes during the weekends at its resource centre at Isecheno. The classes help the community understand briquette technology in an established educational setting, giving them the knowledge required to produce and ultimately use this new technology.

Community members can collect raw materials such as dried leaves from their compound or sawdust from splitting of timber and bring them to the KEEP resource centre to produce briquettes using the organization’s briquette press. In additional, KEEP trains school communities in the region as well as community groups visiting the organization to learn about forest conservation.

KEEP also distributes information packets to supplement these workshops/training sessions .KEEP members have been able to produce over 1000 briquettes per day , and sell them at US$ 0.2 per sachet containing three briquettes .They  market  the briquettes by visiting schools, conducting field demonstrations and through the direct demonstration site, which is located at their Resource centre.

Ms Consolata Musanga joined the KEEP in 2008 and was among those trained on making charcoal briquettes. She used to collect firewood from Kakamega forest for cooking or buy charcoal. Since the forest is a protected reserve, she would sometimes get arrested. The forest is a protected reserve, she would sometimes get arrested. The forest has a large snake had never bitten Ms Musunga. She feared that if she continued fetching wood from the forest, someday this would happen. She now produces fuel briquettes and sells them at US$ 0.2 for a batch of three pieces. Using briquettes has changed her family’s cooking style. Meals are cooked faster and her house is more habitable since there is less smoke. She also saves close to three dollars per week, which she would have used to purchase charcoal, and saves time that she would otherwise have spent in the forest searching for fuel wood. Briquette technology has helped Ms Musunga to improve her perception of different types of residues, which her family now views it as important since they can be recycled into briquettes.

Making sugarcane Bagasse Briquettes

1. Size reduction: The sugarcane is chopped, rolled through sequencing machine or hammered against a hard base to remove the moisture content.
2. Drying: The bagasse is dried in the hot sun for two to three days or forced through heated air in a large rotating drum to remove any remaining moisture.
3. Carbonisation: The dried bagasse is combusted under limited oxygen conditions in a buried pit or trench until it carbonises into charcoal.
4. Preparation for feedback: The carbonised bagasses are mixed with a binder.
5. Compaction and extrusion: The bagasse and the binder are passed through a machine or manually operated extruder to form rolls of charcoal.
6. Drying the rolls: The rolls are dried for between one to three days, causing them to break into chunks.
7. Packaging and marketing: The packaged briquettes of different sizes and weight are sold at retail outlets at a price of Kenya shillings 30(US$0.40). The product is sold under the trade name cane coal.

Advantages and challenges of producing and using briquettes

o   Recycling of organic waste into fuel briquettes can be an income generating venture, leads to efficient waste disposal and maintenance of environmental aesthetic quality. Enhancing the process of recovery of organic residues can restore various natural cycles, thus preventing the loss of raw materials, energy and nutrients.

o   Fuel briquettes are regarded as a viable answer to the urgent need for climate –friendly technologies in developing countries. The market prices of briquettes are cheaper than wood fuel and charcoal and they offer greater opportunity for environmental protection and sustainable development due to the following reasons:

Ø  Using briquettes made from organic materials and other biological residues helps conserve the vegetation cover in the environment by reducing community reliance on forests.

Ø  Briquettes emit little smoke in comparison to other sources of energy for domestic consumption and hence there is reduced pollution.

Ø  Briquettes offer a safe and financial way of disposing organic residues and by-products, which would otherwise pollute the environment.

Ø  Briquettes offer alternative source of fuel, which is cheap, easily available and accessible; they reduce the long hours community members, especially girls and women, would otherwise spend in search of fuel

Conclusion

Although briquettes are a viable and sustainable alternative to firewood and charcoal, there are several challenges to overcome before development of a successful briquette project. Perhaps the biggest challenge is convincing community members that briquettes can actually replace traditional fuels such as firewood and charcoal. The transition from firewood to briquettes can be difficulty, particularly in areas where fuel wood is readily accessible.

Article by Andrew Nyamu

Project Officer Inades formation Kenya